A fire caused by an overheated dehumidifier ignited in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill South neighborhood, according to reports from Pittsburgh Public Safety. According to WTAE, the incident occurred early today on the 2900 block of Beechwood Boulevard and was promptly responded to by firefighters.
The fire, which broke out around 3 a.m., led to two firefighters suffering from heat-related injuries while battling the blaze, with one needing hospitalization, the other treated right at the scene, this information was shared by Pittsburgh Public Safety as well; at the residence, a woman was awakened by smoke alarms and managed to escape unharmed, an account also confirmed by CBS News.
Upon arrival, firefighters confronted flames that had taken hold of the house's basement, where a malfunctioning dehumidifier had apparently overheated and sparked the fire. The safety measures in place, namely smoke alarms, played a crucial role in alerting the occupant of the home, who was able to evacuate without sustaining injuries.
While containing the fire, one firefighter was taken to the hospital in a stable condition due to heat exhaustion. With another colleague enduring similar heat-related symptoms treated on the spot, the fire was soon considered under control approximately 45 minutes after the first responders arrived on scene.
